Leeds Castle
Commonly known as 'The Loveliest Castle in the World', Leeds Castle is romantically situated in the centre of a lake within stunning grounds.
Leeds is certainly one of the most renowned and popular castles of the World. Leeds Castle is built across two small islands in a lake, and stands majestically within 500 acres of grounds. Within this parkland can be found ancient oak trees, dating from the early 1700's and the castle's lakes and rivers are home to over 30 species of waterfowl.
Dating back to the 9th Century as a Saxon royal manor, Leeds has had many illustrious owners since King Edward I built the splendid castle for his Queen Eleanor in 1278. Leeds Castle was subsequently a favourite with six medieval Queens of England and was often visited by Henry VIII who embellished the castle with and its many Tudor windows. Leeds passed out of royal ownership after Edward VI granted it to Sir Anthony St Leger whose descendants the Fairfax and Culpepper families continued to renovate the Castle before being granted vast tracts of land in Virginia in the United States by King Charles II and carrying on their fortunes across the Atlantic, accounting for the counties of Fairfax and Culpepper in the States.
The Castle has a magnificent collection of medieval furnishings, tapestries and paintings dating back eight centuries. The paintings in the Banqueting Hall recall Henry VIII's meeting with Francis I of France in the Fields of the Cloth of Gold in 1520. There is also a remarkable collection of 18th Century Chinese porcelain and a fine medieval chapel dedicated by Edward I to Queen Eleanor after her death in childbirth.
Within the stunning parkland you’ll find Wood Gardens, Formal Gardens, Mediterranean Terrace Gardens a colourful Aviary with around 100 species of birds and an amusing Maze with wonderful underground grotto. There is also a rather bizarre Dog Collar Museum, with an extraordinary collection of collars, which goes to show that you will find a museum on about anything in Britain!
This attraction is included in the Great British Heritage Pass.
